[tenshi no hane]

I'm translating the interview in BRAZIL, so here's a preview of what I've done so far (the first page and a little more)

KODA KUMI 10th Anniversary Special Interview

First-ever trip to Brazil
----To the other side of the world, a 30 hour voyage

I released my previous photo book, which was shot in Morocco, four years ago. Moreover, I celebrated my 10th anniversary. That’s why another photo book has been released after such a long time. This time the location was on the other side of the world: Brazil. If I was going to release another photo book, I wanted to shoot it, full of excitement, in a place of which I wasn’t sure if I could ever go there. Furthermore, Brazil will host the summer Olympics in two years, and it will host the FIFA World Cup in four years. That’s partly why I felt that it would be nice to show everyone Brazil’s greatness through photos before that time.

Having said that, it takes 30 hours to reach Brazil from Japan. Because just getting there already takes up a lot of time, the time I could spent shooting was limited. But I absolutely wanted to make an even better photo book that last time. That’s why I just worked my hardest from the day I arrived in Brazil without setting up a schedule or anything.

We first started at a place in Rio that was full of shops. All the things that were sold there were incredibly cute. Also, the trees in a park nearby looked like they came from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. And all the samba dancers who danced with me were burning with passion! Thanks to them, I thought ‘maybe there’s Latin-American blood flowing inside me too’ (laughter). I got all pumped up. As a result I feel this book is something that could only have been shot in Brazil and nowhere else. I held that belief since the very first day and I am truly happy that I did.

The theme: my natural self

By the way, quite a lot of the small items seen in this photo book are mine. Nearly all of the sunglasses are mine, and some of my accessories, shoes and favourite things were used. I feel I could really be myself thanks to that. Especially thanks to the shoes. Because those shoes are the things that will lead me to the future. I wanted to walk with my beloved shoes in Brazil, in a place that will develop further in the future. In the end I am an artist, so to be honest, I feel some reluctance about releasing a photo book. That’s why I wanted to convey the things I feel through the image of Koda Kumi if I really was going to release one anyway. I carried such an alternate theme inside me. Different from decorative world view expressed in the Morocco photo book, I wanted to use various of my personal things in this photo book in order to show as much of my natural self as possible.

In addition, the fact that a close friend of mine came along with me was also an important reason why I could be myself. Of course when we were shooting she spent the time alone. But she has a very open personality, so she really blended in with the local people. When I suddenly looked over my shoulder during the shoot at Ipanema beach, she was playing with a ball with some kids. Just by asking ‘Can I?’, she joined their group (laughter). Maybe it is a national trait of Latin Americans. The people are all very friendly. There are many warm and happy people. These aspects also made me feel that Brazil is really a beautiful country.

[more to come~]